Content
- The right care for the saxifrage
- How often should Saxifraga representatives be cast?
- When will the saxifrage be transplanted?
- When and how can the saxifrage be cut?
- Which diseases and pests attack the saxifrage?
- Should the saxifrage be fertilized?
- How is the saxifrage wintered?
- Tips
Steinbrech hardly needs care
The right care for the saxifrage
As a robust plant family, which also occurs in extreme locations in the high mountains, the various types of Saxifraga quite a lot. However, the growth and flowering ability of the saxifrage can be significantly increased with a well-thought-out choice of location and suitable care measures.
Early article Plant the saxifrage in the garden properly Next article Under the right conditions hardy: the saxifrageHow often should Saxifraga representatives be cast?
In principle, most saxifraga species should be additionally watered at least for extended periods of heat and drought, as these are usually also planted on a well-drained substrate. However, the exact requirements between the more than 450 species of Saxifraga differ quite considerably. As a rule of thumb, fine-leaved saxifriers require a more regular (sometimes daily) water supply than saxifrages with succulent, thick-leaved leaves. Irrigation should not be done in the midday heat, but in the morning and evening hours.
When will the saxifrage be transplanted?
The best season for saxifrage is spring. Often, in April or May planted specimens can form amazing pads with a large number of flowers already in the summer. Mix slightly rotted compost under the potting soil to save time and effort in the semi-shade and slightly moist Saxifraga species.
When and how can the saxifrage be cut?
The saxifrage does not necessarily require a pruning in the sense of size limitation. Of course, you can also shorten parts of the plant sideways at any time, if the pads outgrow the intended location. Dead plant parts are removed for visual reasons, this works with the countless stems of the saxifrage especially time-saving with an electric lawn scissors.
Which diseases and pests attack the saxifrage?
Occasionally, saxifrage plants are attacked by the beetles known as the weevil. These can be lured into small pots full of wood wool and collected regularly. A control with nematodes is also possible, which attack the larvae of the beetle and die within a few days.
Should the saxifrage be fertilized?
Only a few species of the saxifrage family benefit from economical fertilizer inputs, while many thrive on meager subsurfaces with gravel proportions, especially splendid and rich in flowers. In particular, as the species originating from mountainous locations favor calcareous sites, occasional calcification should be used, for example, for the following varieties of upland saxifrage:
How is the saxifrage wintered?
With balanced moisture conditions, most saxifrages survive winter outdoors without any special protective measures. Only at locations with strong temperature fluctuations and with cold frosts can it come to overwintering problems.
Tips
When buying Steinbrech, pay close attention to the specific subspecies and its requirements, as there may be some extreme differences in location and moisture requirements.